Thanks to Te Rūnanga o Awarua for securing funding from the Ngāi Tahu Fund for the korowai weaving wānanga that was held at Te Rau Aroha Marae in late June.
Korowai weaving tutor Maata McManus from Ngaruawahia provided the tuition for some very eager students. Maata brought with her, experienced helpers Annie Rewharewha and mokopuna, Aaaliyah and Jayden Abraham.
Our first wānanga saw two students start on their whānau korowai and 22 students started the journey with a short korowai.
The first night was a shock to many who thought they’d be tucked up in their beds early, as we were only preparing feathers. How wrong we all were as we didn’t finish until 1am. Many of us commented the next day that we dreamed of feathers.
Unless you’ve done weaving previously many probably thought what had they let themselves in for but in the month between the first and second wānanga, support and information helped keep participants motivated.
Our second wānanga was held in late July with a new intake of 10 students ready to start their short korowai. Maata told us that if we did one row a night we could have our whānau korowai completed within three months. So the challenge has been accepted and 15 participants from the first intake have started to make their whānau korowai with a number of mothers and daughters teaming up.
Our next wānanga is planned for 11-12 September at Te Rau Aroha Marae. It has been agreed that we will take a final intake of people interested in learning to make korowai, starting with a short korowai and progressing onto making their whānau korowai. If this sounds like you or you know someone who would be interested please call in and see Tina Mitchell at the Te Rūnanga o Awarua office,12 Bradshaw Street, Bluff or contact her on 03 212 6029/027 525 7055; or alternatively email her on [email protected]
A graduation date has been set for Sunday 21 May 2016. This involves presentation of certificates for short korowai and whānau korowai in front of friends and whānau, along with a parade of beautiful korowai and kākahu, culminating in a dinner.
From left, Terina Stockwell, Louise Fowler and Eve Fowler-Stockwell working on their short korowai weaving.
From left, Britt-Amber Barris, Marama Johnson, Jasmine Heads, Jane McKenzie, Rachel Simpson (kneeling). Starting their whānau korowai and in other participants working on their short korowai.
From left, Gail Thompson, Barbara Metzger, Lara Stevens (standing) and Terina Stockwell (back to camera).
The group of weavers standing outside the marae.